Automatic discharge valve



March 27, 1928.-

W. A. BRADLEY AUTOMATIC DISCHARGE VALVE Filed Sept. 8, 1925 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENToR @L ,4d/mmf eceas'ed.

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March 27, 1928. 1,664,020

' w. A. BRADLEY AUTOMATIC DISCHARGE VALVE Filed sept. a. 192s 2sheets-snee*y 2 Patented Mar. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATE-s n 1,664,02o5 PATENT oFrlcE.

WILLIAM A. RRADLEY, DECASED; LATII'oI` sAN TRANCIsComALIFoRNIA, BY IRvINs. THYLR, ADMINISTRATOR, 1or sAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC nIsCHARdRyALvE. I

Application led September 8, 1925. SerialyNo. 54,892.

This invention relates to valves and particularly to automatic dischargevalves to be used on dewatering and decanting machines, thickeners, orany similar machine `in which particles in suspension are to be settledand automatically discharged. The present inventionis an improvement onVa former patent issued to vWilliam A. Bradley, March 24, 1925, entitledAutomatic discharge valve, Patent No. 1,530,592.

The object of the present invention is to generally improve and simplifythe construction 'and operation of the valve shown in the patent abovereferred to, to provide a valve which is automatic and sensitive inoperation, a valve which yisadapted to be attached to the bottom of atank used vin connection with dewatering or like ma-A chines, and whichwill be operable independent of the tank or the contents thereof, Va

valve which consists of a mechanism which' comprises a movable bowl, avalve carriedl thereby, a stationary'valve seat with 'which the valvecoopera-tes; and further to provide a valve which depends upon theweightof the contents of the bowl yor'movement and operation. Y f

One iorm which the vinvention may assume is exemplified in the followingdescription Referring` to the drawingsrin detail and I particularly to Fig.k 1, A indicates thebottom portion of a dewatering machine or thelike. The bottom portion is provided with a central discharge openingVand' connected with the bottom of the tank and mounted in alignmenttherewith is a headmember .generally indicated at B. `v Secured tothehead member are a pair of downwardly Aextending arms 2 and 3, 'andconnecting the vlower ends of the arms is a cross'barV 4 which; supportsa iinal discharge member 5. Disposed intermediate of the dischargemember 5 and the head B is a floating bowl generally indicated at G.This bowl is cylindrical shaped in cross section and elongated asillustrated. The upper end of the bowl Ais connected-with a head memberB through means of a exible annular diaphragm 6 whichV may beconstructed of rubber or like material. The f upper'end of the diaphragmissecured to a flange 7 of headB by means of a clamping ring 8 and bolts9, and the lower side of the 60 diaphragm is secured to the upper endof'.`

the" bowl' by arclamping lring'lO and bolts4 v11. A water-tightjjoint isin this manner* yformed and free movement oftheffbowlin nected to theldischarge member 5; that,is,`a flexible annular diaphragm '12 isdisposed bea` tween the bowl and the. discharge member'lo and thisdiaphragm: is secured at its upper end to the bowl by means offaclamping ring l 13 andbolts 14, while the VYlower `endcofthe `diaphragmis secured to the cross arm 4 or the discharge member 5 bymeans 4of aclampingv 75 ring 15 and bolts 16."

Secured interior of the bowl or formed integral therewithiszapair ofcross arms 17. A hub member I18 is formed centrally of'V said arms, andarod extends downwardly through the hub and is secured therein.

This rod carries a valve ofthe mushroom type such fas shown at 20-in itslower end, and, this valve cooperates with a stationary valve seatmember 21 adjustablyrsecred in 85 p cat ed at D.- VThisv armfissupported cnam) 'knife pivot indicated-at25 and it is 'forked as at 26to straddle the bowl. The opposite sidesof-the bowl are provided withlugs 27 and pins 28 are interposed between the lugs and the 'outer ends,of `the forks, the pins 95 28 providing an anti-friction support whichresists vertical movement of the bowl to the least degree. .The arm Disotherwise provided lwithan adjustable counter-weight E" and the valve 20may thus beY normally held 100 against its seat 21 with anylpredetermined pressure desired.y

In actual operation, it will be understood that the tank A is iilledwith a Ysolution which carries solids in suspension; forins'tance, 105

ally set-tlc to the bottom while the more 110 seat member-.21.

cumulatevin the bowl the weight thereof` gradually increases to such anextent sthat the bowl .overcomes the action'o-f the counterweightwandaccordingly .settles vertically in:

" a downwarddirection. The /valveaccordin'g' ly moves away from. thelseat 2l andthe solids are .free tocontinuously or. intermit-y Y`settling tanks comprising a 1 discharge mene berl disposed'below "aldischarge opening in'V lla tank andinlalignment itl-rerewith, a ver#'.ti callyV disposedcylindrical"shaped elongated tently discharge:throughthe' member 5. Y

Thefposition `of :theI counterweight is nor- `ma'lly such that the bowlwill i'emain'in-,a

raised position so as to maintain the valve 2O iii-engagement withitsseat.vv Thus', if1n`o solids are'enteringlthe tank, .there `willbefno discharge. But-'thefmoment solids ybegin `'towenteivandaccumulate, aslight additional weight Vwill be obtained andthis is justsufficient ito vlower, the bowl landthe valve iand therebyipermit anautomatic discharge. v

The'densi'ty ofthe discharging Amaterial orby adjusting theposition-'oi' ythe valve Actual experience proves that it :is possible:to obtain'la dischargevcontainingasmuch as-370 per` cent-` or more ofysolids.

While `certain* features fof the vpresent in-v vention Vare more oryless specificallyillus-y trated, it is to 4be l'understood that variouschanges in form `iand proportion i may ibe resorted 4to within :thescope of the *appendedclaims. Itis similarly-to be understood that thevmaterials and" finish Vof the several parts employedimaylbe such asi/theexperience and .judgmentrfo'f 4the *manufacturer may dictateor-varioususes2may demand.

Havingftlius described vvthe invention, what is claimedland desiredtofbesecured -byLetters. Patent'. is:

1. .Anaiitomatic `disch-'arge mechanism for settling tanks, *comprisingaV discharge Emem` ber spaced from and disposedbelow the tank,xafbowlbelow the tank and interposed between th'e tank andthe discharge kmemberfso `that `settling matter from-the tank is permitted :to ,settle invthe lbowl andllater dis-- charge into the discharge member, `avalvecarried"by' .the lbovvl and normally forming a 4closure for thedischarge member, and means :for permitting vertical movement of theval'v'efl'and the ybowl when a predeten mined amount ofmatter hassettled therein to permit discharge of settlinginat-ter'.

2. VAn {automatic-f discharge lm'e'ch'ani'sn1"fo1 y taken care of in thepresent settling tanks comprising :it-di-sch-a-rge-niem-V ber `disposed@below i, a discharge openingl'in a tank and in alignment therewith, avertical- Y ly disposed cylindrical shaped elongated-bowlinterposedbetween the discharge opening "andthe discharge member, aflexible 'conduit `forming a connection between the discharge opening inthe bottom of the tank andfthecupper endzo-nthe bowl, a second flexibleconduit forming a connection between 'thesettlinginatter 'from the ftankto'lpass i"to the discharge member, and :a valve .carried Iby'.theb'oW-l andfnormally iforminglafclosure `forr Ylthea'discharge:member'.` Y t 3. An i-'automatic"dischfarge"mechanism.for

bowl 'interposedbetwecn'the-'discharge open- :ing-'fand :tliedischargemember,:a flexible con-f charge'openingfintliebottom of the tank andconduit. ifoinnings);l a .connection `between .the

ber, csaid .bowl l and 'conduits permitting ithe settlingfmatter fromthe tank to :pass to the discharge-1member,1and'a valve CarriQdb-ythebowl and normallyfformingfaclosure Yfor the -discharge-me'mber,said'fflexihle conduitsl permrtting'free 'verticali1novement`=-of1tliebowl and .the 'valve., and means-*supporting thebovvlifand'b'perm-itting down-ward `movement-of `the bowl and the Valvewhen the pi-'edeterduit forminga connectionl Vbetween the dis-`thefupperendof theibowl, aV second flexible 90 mined Vqliantityoifsettling matter has fc'oli? "An automatic fdisch'argeime'chanism for'settling tanks comprising a discharge memberdisposed I'below v=adischarge "opening in a tank .a-ndvifn alignmentftherewith, a'vertically.disposed Vcylindrical shaped elongated' bowl interposed between ithedisch-'arge opening and'ithe dischargemember, a flexible'fconduitforming a connection between the disclrargefopening-inthebottomfof the tank Y `andthe:upperfendfofthe?bowl, aL secondflexibleconduitfforming=alconnection between member, said l"bowl andconduits'permitting *the 'sett-lingfmatter Ifromgthe Etank to pass to-thefdischar-ge*memben and *afvalve carried Bradley,- Deceased;

.Admmgmmiofffhaismf@ of William A,

